Head of School

NEW YORK, July 2, 2018 — It is with great joy and enthusiasm that The Cathedral School Board introduces its new Head of School, Mr. George Papayannis.

George Papayannis is an award-winning leader in the Boston Public School district. In eleven years with the district, he has taken on roles with increasing scope and responsibility, from science and engineering teacher, to team leader, to evaluator and instructional coach. Prior to working in schools, George was the Assistant Executive Director of the ACE Mentor Program, where he managed operations for the New York and Garden City programs.

George transitioned to education from the building industry. He pairs design thinking skills he developed as a structural engineer with Thornton Tomasetti and project management skills he developed as a project engineer at Turner Construction to bring innovative learning experiences to students. George’s passion lies in cultivating industry and community partnerships to extend the students’ learning experiences beyond the four walls of the school building.

George is a Trustee, Overseer, and Chair of The Innovators at the Museum of Science in Boston. “He has a keen understanding of how to maximize the efforts of all committee members and build off of their strengths,” said Michael Grace, Director of the Annual Fund for the Museum of Science. “George is the type of volunteer that development professionals dream of — he is the quintessential Museum ambassador, a strong leader within the Museum community, and has a sharp understanding of philanthropy and the inner workings of a non-profit that, from my own personal experience, is quite rare.”

George has been active in the Reggio Emilia-inspired community since 2010. He is sought after by educators for professional development workshops and panels because of his innovations in bringing a Reggio approach to older children. In 2017, he was hired by Equity Lab Charter School to be their founding principal for the prospective charter school’s application, and strategized with their board on all aspects of the school’s design including curriculum, operations, governance, staffing, space, and outreach.

At Hellenic College, George was an Adjunct Professor of Environmental Science for five years and co-authored the teacher guide for Of Your Mystical Supper: The Eucharist (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, 2009). George has served on many boards, committees, and panels, including for Teachers College, Columbia University, and Boston University and has facilitated workshops at conferences across the country. Conference topics have included building partnerships, using video games to increase science learning, and designing effective learning spaces. In 2017, the president of Teachers College, Columbia University, recognized George for his alumni impact in the Boston region.

George holds a BS in Architectural Engineering from Drexel University, magna cum laude, an MA in Secondary School Science Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and an EdM in School Leadership from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He holds principal licenses in Massachusetts for grades PreK-12, and teaching licenses in Massachusetts, New York, and Colorado. He lives with his wife, Melissa, and infant daughter, Evanthia.